I visited Fletcher's Boathouse this afternoon. Fletcher's is just below Chain Bridge as it descends into Washington DC. I had visited over the years. Arriving by car by the tunnel under the C & O canal is truly a experience. The tunnel looks like it was built during the Civil War and probably was. I was always impressed by the lines of the skiffs. They looked much the same for the last forty years or so that I had been looking at them. But most were not that old Fletcher told me.

This is where wood boat building meets the pavement. These boats are outside all year and are always in the river. Nothin g fancy here. He says they paint them every year with porch and deck enamel. They use marine plywood which has solid plays with every ply plugged. His father began making the boats originally of planks of cypress . Fletcher says you can't find cypress any more and pretty soon there just won't be any. Wood of any sort is more and more expensive

I asked him if there was any Cupernal on them and he allowed as there are people who would gladly put in jail for using Cupernal. I remember buying it at Hechingers the local hardware store where it was stacked up and ready for consumers to obtain by the gallon to preserve what ever was wood. Today boatbuilders rely on epoxy to preserve and fill in gaps. Fletcher's boats just use water proof glue, Weldwood probably.

pruning workshop

http://reston.patch.com/events/pruning-workshop

Posion Ivy branch in section of Sidewalk in Reston on Glade Sidewalk Between Deepwood and Hunters Woods: Note some leaves worn down by pedestrians, ma

We sharpen knives and scissors

We sharpen knives and scissors
Tuesdays
3:30pm–6:30pm at the corner of Monument Dr. and Government Center Pkwy.

Wednesdays
Parking lot of the National Realty Building
Corner of Reston Parkway and Sunrise Valley Drive
3:30pm–6:30pm

Also by appointment on location

hours of operation

on Tuesdays at:
11895 Grand Commons Avenue (next to the Lucy store)
Fairfax Corner
11:30am–2:30pm
Year-round
As of April 27 this market will run from 3:30pm–6:30pm and return to its previous outdoor location at the corner of Monument Dr. and Government Center Pkwy.

Wednesdays
Parking lot of the National Realty Building
Corner of Reston Parkway and Sunrise Valley Drive
3:30pm–6:30pm
Opens April 28

and maybe on Thursdays if I can get the Herndon town council to understand the benign nature of sharpening
Herndon Centre (Kmart)
Elden St., Herndon
3:30pm–6:30pm
Opens May 13

I am at Curran Fabrics in Mclean around the corner from Giants the first Wednesday (this) of the month where you can drop them off and pick them up at your leisure.